ANKARA — Turkey has denied reports in Today’s Zaman daily that the Gallipoli commemorations set to take place on April 24 have been canceled due to low anticipated participation from the countries invited, according to Daily Sabah newspaper.
“Sources from both the Presidency and Prime Ministry have refuted the claims that the commemorations have been canceled, refraining from offering further details over how many and which countries will participate in the Gallipoli centennial commemoration”. Daily Sabah reports.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu sent letters to 102 countries inviting the leaders of states to attend the commemoration ceremonies in Turkey marking the 100th anniversary of the World War I Battle of Gallipoli this year on April 24.
The invitation letters were also sent to U.S. President Barack Obama and Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian.
Yerevan rejected the invitation and in an open letter to Erdogan, Sarkisian said the invitation itself showed Turkey’s continuing policy of denying the Armenian genocide.
